Sri Leela Krishna Steels

Sri Leela Krishna Steels is out in Thondangi Mandal, specifically in Ontimamidi. Being in East Godavari, the air is often thick and the sun is pretty unforgiving on the metal. Our yard is at 1/3 and it’s mostly just stacks of steel bars and plates sitting out in the open. You can hear the clanging of metal being loaded onto trucks from quite a distance away. It’s a heavy job, and by the end of the day, everyone is covered in a layer of fine rust and grit. We don't have a polished front office or air conditioning that works particularly well. Most of our day is spent outside or in the small shed checking the weight of the loads. The local farmers and builders come by when they are starting a new project, and there is usually a lot of talking before any work actually starts. We’ve seen the seasons change many times from this spot, watching the rains turn the yard into a muddy mess and the summer heat make the steel too hot to touch without thick gloves. It’s not the kind of place where you’d wear a suit. We mostly just focus on getting the right amount of steel onto the right truck and making sure the gate is locked up tight at night. It is a simple, honest way to spend the day in the village.